Honda Cars : Car Advice!: 2014 Subaru WRX caught at Nurburgring! | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

By Daniel DeGasperi | April 16th, 2013


The 2014 Subaru WRX has been caught entering the Nurburgring in Germany, almost undisguised in its first-ever public sighting.

Previewed as the Subaru WRX Concept at the New York auto show one month ago, the production version stays true to the concept’s design language, while reflecting the promises made by Subaru executives to CarAdvice at the show.

Subaru WRX for production maintains the hexagonal shape and mesh grille shown by the WRX Concept, although the opening isn’t as large and the grille isn’t tilted forward.

Headlights maintain the same shape and angular lines, and although the production WRX doesn’t keep the aggressive indent of the WRX Concept, it maintains the frosted-white C-shape border the outside of the headlight.

The bonnet keeps its power bulge and intercooler scoop, but the production car picks up regular circular fog lights housed within smaller flanks. A thinner, lower air intake compared with the concept rounds out the frontal changes that present a distinctly different look to current Impreza models.

Doors and mirrors on the production Subaru WRX appear to be shared with the Impreza, including picking up a ‘quarter window’. The wheelarches and rear haunches also appear to be substantially toned down compared with the WRX Concept.

As with both the current WRX and the WRX Concept, however, the new model bound for production gets unique scooped-out ‘air intakes’ on the front guards.

To the rear of the car, the lower diffuser appears all-but-identical to that shown on the WRX Concept, with quad tailpipes and an oversized rear wing continuing as WRX trademarks. The rear surfacing, however, appears to closely resemble that of the current Impreza more than the WRX Concept.

Only the tail-lights have different inner bezels, with the horizontal blinker light moving from a lower position in the tail-light to a central position. The adjoining reversing light then appears to dip down slightly to create half of a ‘T’ shape within the tail-light.

The production prototype seen lapping the Nurburgring confirms the comments made by Subaru of America president Tom Doll, who spoke to CarAdvice at the New York auto show last month following the reveal of the WRX Concept.

“We are trying to split the WRX and STI brands off and away from the Impreza to try and get their own unique styling and own unique attributes,” Doll remarked.

“They may share some [panels] but we’re trying to create – as you can see with the car here – its own style and its own definition, as opposed to just taking it [WRX] from the Impreza model and saying it’s based on the Impreza.”

Doll also all but confirmed the inclusion of a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and the availability of both a manual transmission and CVT with this next generation WRX.

“I think you can probably guess that with the 2.0-litres that are currently in the Impreza that a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine is coming … It will have a manual transmission [and] we might [also] have a CVT in it, with paddleshifting.”

Despite Subaru saying that it expects this new WRX to be its fastest-ever production model, Doll also added that the new car will be firmer, and will “drive and handle like a BRZ”.

This unexpected sighting of the production-ready 2014 Subaru WRX has substantially increased the chance that the road-ready version will debut at the Tokyo motor show in November. Doll described that scenario as “possible”.

Here is the original concept of the WRX.

Source;
http://www.caradvice.com.au/226196/2014-subaru-wrx-caught-at-nurburgring/

Honda Cars : WRX Concept gets walkaround with Subaru design boss Osamu Namba | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

I got to say, I really like the direction Subaru is going with this concept....

Source;
http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/08/wrx-concept-gets-walkaround-with-subaru-design-boss-osamu-namba/

Honda Cars : 2013 New York Auto Show: Subaru WRX STi concept | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Pictures and details of the Subaru WRX STi concept, following its debut at the New York show

The Subaru WRX STi concept has made its official debut at the New York Motor Show.

Taking the form of a pumped-up four-door saloon, this concept previews the next-generation WRX STi. It’s believed that for this generation, Subaru wants to separate the WRX STi from the rest of the Impreza range entirely, and create a standalone line-up.

Although there are no gold alloys to be seen, the trademark Impreza bonnet scoop is bigger than ever. At the rear, a set of four Lamborghini Gallardo lookalke exhausts either side of a huge rear diffuser hint that this is a serious performance machine.

There’s no word on what engine is under the concept’s bonnet, or what will be fitted to the production car, but it’s likely to use Subaru’s tradition four-cylinder ‘Boxer’ layout. There are rumours, it could even use a hybrid powertrain producing over 300bhp.

We brought you the story that Subaru has no plans to bring the new WRX STI or Impreza to the UK, although we’ve since heard that if there’s still sufficient demand in this country, the WRX STI could still make to UK showrooms. We’ll bring you more details when the car is officially unveiled in New York.

Source;

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/subaru/wrx-sti/63307/subaru-wrx-sti-concept-pictures/page/7/0#main-content-area

Honda Cars : MotorTrend: Subaru Impreza Going it's Own Way | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

July 14, 2011 / By Peter Lyon
Illustrator: Holiday Auto Magazine

Remember the drama around removing the "Skyline" prefix from the GT-R when the all-new supercar debuted in late 2007? Well, it looks like nomenclature surgery is about to happen again, only this time Subaru is doing the separating. That's right, the Impreza and famed WRX -- joined at the hip since 1992 -- are going their separate ways.

While the new production Impreza debuted at this year’s New York Auto Show, the next WRX will take a completely different path of development and will not surface until 2014. We know this because Subaru president Ikuo Mori said at a recent shareholder’s meeting: “We will launch a new sporty car in 2014.” The WRX is that car.

In the past week, we have learned from a source just how different the new WRX will be to the Impreza, employing totally different components.

This image, revealing how one artist sees the new WRX, depicts a new coupe model with a shorter wheelbase and heavy-duty bodywork It's important to note that this is just one vision of the new car, it may turn out to look much different. Our source also tells us Subaru bosses haven't decided if the WRX name will survive. For the time being, we'll refer to it as WRX.

“Apart from a few nuts and bolts, every part on the WRX will be unique. Even the engine and body. Obviously the WRX’s platform will be inherited from the new Impreza, but it will be radically modified and significantly shortened,” says our source.

From now on, the Impreza will be the company's core model, boasting a fuel-efficient, naturally aspirated 2.0-liter boxer engine. The car's wheelbase has been slightly lengthened, while the A-pillar has been brought forward to maximize interior space and comfort levels. At this point, it is unclear if Subaru will attempt an Impreza-based performance model to bridge the gap until the new WRX arrives, but it appears unlikely.

"Up until now, the Impreza and WRX used many common parts, which translated into entry-level Imprezas that were over-engineered," the source continued. The basic chassis and suspension had to employ certain parts needed for the WRX. That drove costs up, and many entry-level customers did not want or understand the significance of such high-tech parts, stresses our insider.

The WRX, on the other hand, will employ the very best from Subaru's parts bin, starting with an updated version of the company's rally-proven AWD system and a turbocharged boxer engine.
"The first thing you must understand about our all-new WRX is that we have developed it from the ground up to win in motorsports events. That's why we have focused so heavily on weight issues, not to mention a shorter wheelbase that permits faster, more precise turn-in. Marry that to our proven AWD system, and we think we have a winner," explains our source.

If you look at the Sebastien Loeb's multiple-championship-winning Citroen C4 in the World Rally Championship, you can see where Subaru is coming from -- or going to. They want to build a WRX that can beat the Citroen while still offering driving enthusiasts something special for their garages. The company has pulled out of WRC, but with the new WRX, a return looks possible. Above the WRX, Subaru will still offer a low-production flagship STI, a model our source calls a "race car for the road."

"Obviously the rally model will be based on the top-of-the-line STI car, but unlike previous Impreza WRXs, this new WRX will be more hard-core and less forgiving on bumpy road surfaces," adds our source. Collaboration with Toyota on the FT-86 project also seems to have something to do with the direction of the new WRX and STI. "If the truth be known, we were able to focus so deeply on the motorsports element with the new WRX because we developed a sister car with the Toyota FT-86. Bosses gave us permission to go all out because that car exists," says our insider.

Our source also revealed what is going on in the bowels of Subaru's R&D. On the short list for the WRX’s powerplant is a turbocharged 1.6-liter boxer pumping as much as 270 hp, and a twin-charger system involving a supercharger is being tested as well. The car’s body is rumored to be a little bigger than a Toyota Yaris, while its tread width is said to expand significantly. As for the STI, we are told that the flagship will also employ the WRX’s 1.6-liter boxer turbo, but that the engine will be reworked to generate upwards of 300 hp for motorsport competitiveness.

Subaru bosses see the new WRX initially competing in domestic rallies and gymkhanas, but they are also targeting Europe's World Touring Car Championships as well as the long-awaited return to the WRC.

Bottom line? Get used to saying Subaru WRX (most of us enthusiasts do, anyway). Expect unprecedented levels of AWD handling and performance at a bargain price -- the vehicle should land in showrooms in roughly two years in the $26,000-$29,000 range.
Source;
http://www.motortrend.com/future/future_vehicles/1107_subaru_wrx_to_go_its_own_way/index.html#ixzz1STGTg5Jq